Greenspace unveils plan for Memphis parks post-Confederate statues

You Xu (left) and Lili Xu take a picture from Fourth Bluff Park Thursday morning where Memphis Greenspace Inc., the nonprofit that bought two city parks and removed their Confederate statues in December, announced on Thursday a plan to improve the parks which includes cleaning up walkways, installing seating, adding trashcans, and establishing security measures. (Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)Buy Photo

Memphis Greenspace Inc., the nonprofit that bought two city parks and removed their Confederate statues in December, announced on Thursday a plan to improve the parks.

Memphis Greenspace will first improve infrastructure at Health Sciences Park and Fourth Bluff Park by cleaning up walkways, adding seating and trashcans, and establishing wayfinding and security measures, Greenspace announced in a release.

And in March, the Downtown Memphis Commission will launch a spring music series and weekly meditative arts programming, including yoga and Tai Chi, at the parks.

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Now that Memphis' Confederate statues have been removed, Greenspace Inc.'s director Van Turner Jr. says it can now begin to create non-oppressive recreational spaces for all Memphians.
Tonyaa Weathersbee/The Commercial Appeal

“For a majority of our population, these parks were not inviting, and we want them to be for our entire community,” said Van Turner, president of the nonprofit and a Shelby County commissioner. “We’ve taken a significant and critical first step by removing Confederate statues, and now we are moving forward with our intention to reinvent the park as a valuable asset for communities and the city as a whole.”

The nonprofit is also coordinating with the Memphis Medical District Collaborative on its streetscape improvements project along Manassas, including an artistic crosswalk designed by local artists Cat and Nick Peña leading area residents, employees, students, and visitors to Health Sciences Park, according to the release.

Only the pedestal remains of the removed statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest at Health Science Park Thursday morning. The city of Memphis sold two public parks containing Confederate monuments to a nonprofit Wednesday in a massive, months-in-the-planning operation to take the statues down overnight. Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

The removed statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Fourth Bluff Park Thursday morning. The city of Memphis sold two public parks containing Confederate monuments to a nonprofit Wednesday in a massive, months-in-the-planning operation to take the statues down overnight. Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal

December 21, 2017 - Van Turner, Shelby County Commissioner and president of Memphis Greenspace, Inc., speaks during a press conference in front of the pedestral of the removed Confederate statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest at Health Sciences Park on Thursday morning. The nonprofit organization purchased Health Sciences Park and Memphis Park for $1,000 each and had the Confederate statues of Forrest and Jefferson Davis removed on Wednesday night. Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal

December 21, 2017 - Lee Millar, right, a spokesman for the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, listens attentively to the question and answer portion of a press conference held by Memphis Greenspace, Inc. near the pedestral of the removed Confederate statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest at Health Sciences Park on Thursday morning. The nonprofit organization purchased Health Sciences Park and Memphis Park for $1,000 each and had the Confederate statues of Forrest and Jefferson Davis removed on Wednesday night. Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal

December 21, 2017 - Carla Lock stands with her great niece, Emorie London, 10, and grandson, Benjamin Hampton, 7, while attending a press conference held by Memphis Greenspace, Inc. near the pedestral of the removed Confederate statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest at Health Sciences Park on Thursday morning. The nonprofit organization purchased Health Sciences Park and Memphis Park for $1,000 each and had the Confederate statues of Forrest and Jefferson Davis removed on Wednesday night. Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal

Only the pedestal remains of the removed statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Fourth Bluff Park on Thursday morning. The city of Memphis sold two public parks containing Confederate monuments to a nonprofit Wednesday in a massive, months-in-the-planning operation to take the statues down overnight. Mark Weber / The Commercial Appeal

Memphian Brett Schutt takes a picture of the removed statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Fourth Bluff Park Thursday morning. The city of Memphis sold two public parks containing Confederate monuments to a nonprofit Wednesday in a massive, months-in-the-planning operation to take the statues down overnight. Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Only the pedestal remains of the removed statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest at Health Sciences Park on Thursday morning. The city of Memphis sold two public parks containing Confederate monuments to a nonprofit Wednesday in a massive, months-in-the-planning operation to take the statues down overnight. Mark Weber / The Commercial Appeal

Only the pedestal remains of the removed statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest at Health Sciences Park on Thursday morning. The city of Memphis sold two public parks containing Confederate monuments to a nonprofit Wednesday in a massive, months-in-the-planning operation to take the statues down overnight. Mark Weber / The Commercial Appeal

Greenspace will also work with The Kresge Foundation on improvements at Fourth Bluff Park. The foundation was one of several organizations that last year awarded Memphis a five-year, $5 million “Reimagining the Civic Commons” grant for projects in the area.

“We are able to see and practice a much more comprehensive vision for Memphis’ riverfront now that Van and his team have lifted the barriers and unlocked a unified potential,” said Carol Coletta, a senior fellow with the foundation.

Greenspace is funding its work at the two parks — and may buy more city parks — with donations given through the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. Greenspace secured about $250,000 in donations and commitments before buying the parks, and hasn't raised much more since then, Turner said.

"The donations have trickled in, but we're just starting to fund-raise in earnest," he said.

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January 06, 2018 - Police at Fourth Bluff Park prepare for protesters to possibly parade through the city in 18-wheelers, cars and motorcycles to demonstrate against the recent removal of Confederate monuments. The "rolling rally," organized by the Facebook page Confederate 901, is expected to begin at noon as protesters drive to Health Sciences Park and Fourth Bluff Park, Confederate battle flags flying, from staging points in the suburbs and in Mississippi and Arkansas.(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

A statue of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest was removed from its pedestal over his and his wife's graves in Health Sciences Park, while statues of President Jefferson Davis and Capt. J. Harvey Mathes were removed from Fourth Bluff Park overlooking the Mississippi River.

The two sides argued Thursday in Nashville over whether a Chancery Court judge should issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the city or Greenspace from taking further action related to the statue. A decision wasn't expected until next week.